According to CBS Los Angeles, Spider-Man and two Captain Americas (perhaps one was that crazy Cap from the 1950s) came to blows Wednesday afternoon on Hollywood Boulevard, near the Dolby Theatre. The cause? A turf war among superhero impersonators — who, like their Marvel Universe counterparts, operate with little regulation — and accusations of harassing tourists.

“All of a sudden, two Captain Americas and Spider-Man started circling around me,” said Vernardo Stroud, who works at the Madame Tussauds kiosk where the fight took place. “Captain America just hit one of them and Spider-Man started bleeding and almost broke the TV.”

Among the witnesses was Batman (aka A.C. Simmons), who said there were rising tensions among the superhero community that had to be unleashed. “There are a group of characters who are actually strong-arming tourists and actually asking for $20 tips, which is ridiculous,” he told CBS Los Angeles. “And they kind of force them to pay.”

David

Kyer

I know DC’s Justice League had The Justice Lords and the Earth 3 villains so maybe these were really Skrulls masquerading as Avengers out to make a dishonest (20) bucks at the reputation expense of superheroes everywhere?

Justin

They are obviously drug adicts and other worse things (maybe not all of them, but yeah… probably all of them), it’s terrifying that tourists take their children too see these people. You’d think that one harrassed tourist and they’d do something about it, but here we are ten years later… I think at least the tourism board should put a disclaimer up near them.
On the other hand, this is not really news, they’ve been doing this forever, so it’s more to gawk at wierdos than it is to see a 130 pound, blood-shot and vericose-vained Superman.

Isabel

should have some kind of regulation. In Barcelona the mimes have to pass an audition and Madrid will do the same with all the street performers to obtain a “license” to act. (subway musicians already do that)